Friendship And Survival: Individual Stories Behind The French Resistance

“Resistance, Friendship and Survival” are the central themes in the work of two writers; Caroline Moorehead and Michèle Roberts who focus on the individual stories behind the French resistance. In their works Ignorance and A Train in the Winter, these two writers explore the ways in which conflict impacts on the lives of ordinary people in a myriad of different ways.

Caroline Moorehead’s book, A Train in the Winter, tells the story of a group of French women, deported because they were communists and active participants in the Resistance, who experienced the atrocity of German concentration camps. Although her female characters are passionate enough to get close to mythology, her story cannot offer a different, positive ending. Her message deals with survival and friendship, fundamental ingredients of all political Resistance. The old paradigm of history being made by men and narrated by men, is radically overturned by Moorehead. With her, history has female speakers with female points of view, and unveils aspects of European history which tend to be underestimated.
Michèle Roberts’ Ignorance, is closely connected to Moorehead’s narrative web. Introducing her title, she said ‘A novelist is allowed to dig into ignorance, otherwise she or he will be a scholar’. Roberts started her research from all sorts of documents related to France at the time of the Second World War. Through her Jewish background and family’s memories, she managed to tell the typical story from a highly original perspective – her own. While Moorehead’s characters more or less come from big French cities, her story is rooted in the French countryside. Roberts’ centre is the kitchen, the place where women had to be relegated, had to work, knew each other and survived.

Roberts’ narrative details are made of pans, recipes, potatoes, conversations on marriage; in such a familiar atmosphere the author incessantly digs into the disturbing and weird side of human beings. The isolated and universal reality Roberts describes was common to many people’s experience. French citizens, Jews, refugees, Resistance fighters, French collaborators (les collabos), Nazis; all Europeans are familiar with the events Roberts wants to rescue from ignorance.

Images Courtesy: 1: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/WikiCommons, 2: Moreau.henri/WikiCommons

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.